Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University is located in Karaman which is a charming city of Central Anatolia and surrounded by Konya, Antalya and Mersin provinces. Its history dates back to 10.000 BC and it was known as Landa/Lanta/Larande (Larende) in ancient times. Karaman was the capital of Karamanoğulları (1256-1487) which was one of the Turkish seigniories founded in Anatolia. In the Republican period, Karaman was a district of Konya Province but on 21th June, 1989 it became the 70th province of Turkey.

Due to the decree of Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey issued on 13th May 1277“From now on, in dervish convent, in council, in the palace, in parliament and in squares, no language other than Turkish is allowed” Karaman is accepted as the capital of Turkish language, and each year on 13th May is celebrated as Turkish Language Festival in Karaman.

About KMU

Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University (KMU) takes its name from Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey who was the third and the greatest ruler of Karamanoğlu seignior Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey. Besides its emblem is based on the decree declared in 1277 by Mehmetbey in which he declared no language other than Turkish was allowed. 16 writs represent 16 Turkish States. Connecting with each other writs make up a sun which affects all Turkish states and this sun symbolizes that Turkish is spoken everywhere. Color blue symbolizes simplicity, dignity and trust; color yellow symbolizes positivism and knowledge light.

History of Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University (KMU) history dates back to Vocational School established under Selcuk University by the decision of Higher Education Council on 30.03.1987. Vocational School (VHS), Ermenek Vocational School, Kazim Karabekir Vocational School, Health Services Vocational School, School of Health, Physical Education and Sports School of Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty, Faculty of Literatur, Kamil Özdağ Science Faculty, Institute of Social Sciences and Institute of Science were established under Selçuk University between 1997 and 2007.

University (KMU) is one of seventeen universities established in accordance with the law numbered 5662. With this law the previously established Vocational Schools, faculties and institutes between 1987 and 2007 as a part of Selçuk University were adhered to Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University. Later on, Faculties of Engineering, Education and Islamic Sciences were established. Vocational School divided into two separate schools in 2012 and was renamed as Social Sciences Vocational School and Technical Sciences Vocational School.

Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University currently continues its education with its six faculties, two colleges, five vocational schools, two institutes and six research centers.

University has over 700 academic and administrative staff and around 10 thousands students.

Campus

Except Ermenek and Kazımkarabekir Vocational Schools all academic and administrative units of Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University are located in a single campus in the city center. The university campus called Yunus Emre Campus. With 1 million 730 thousand m2 area it is one of the campus universities in Turkey.

There are social and sporting facilities located in the campus which can meet all needs of the students.

The social facility called Bazaar has an area of ​​13,000 square meters and there are lots of shops such as cafeterias, bakeries, stationery, coiffeur, jewelry, cashomat, and clothing store. The dining hall is also located in Bazaar area. It has two floors and with its 780 people capacity the students, academic staff and administrative staff meet in the same place. In the dining hall where four-course meal served for 1.5 liras the dinner is also served for the night class students between 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

In the sports complex located in campus which meets the international standards; there are 1500-seat indoor sports hall, tennis courts, basketball, handball, volleyball and football fields, jogging and hiking trails, mountaineering federation certified climbing wall and a semi-Olympic swimming pool. As landscaping works continue at a brisk pace through the Campus, the construction of the university’s mosque is being built in Doğukışla direction.

Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University Central Library located on campus is a four–storey building that has a 4,500 square meters area. With its five separate rooms Library has the capacity of 250 readers who can sit and study at the same time. Internet Access Center with a capacity of 60 computers in the library allows students to study on their assignments and research. With a rich collection; nearly 50 thousand books, 100 kinds of current magazines and numerous electronic database the library serves students and staff every weekday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and on Saturday between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. from 2012 on, thanks to the Author Request Portal implemented by the library instructors and students can request books and other documents they need which are not available in the library through the electronic application. The requested resources are supplied as soon as possible.

Facilities Provided to Students

In order to support financially and to facilitate compliance to business life, each year around 150 needy students are employed and they work at the university in part-time status. In addition, food grant is offered to 300 students who are successful and have low-income.

Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, which has a very high student satisfaction according to surveys done, is adopted the principle of being a student-centered university. Student Request Form launched in 2012 by the Rectorate is an example of this. Students are able to convey their ideas, critics, request and complaints without any other agent to top management with the Application of Student Request Form that were put into practice in 2012 by Rectorate. In case KMU students send their e-mails to the address istek@kmu.edu.tr, top management especially rector and vice rectors take them into account, make necessary arrangements and create possible solutions. Thanks to this application which is uncommonly checked and followed each day, KMU students convey their any requests directly. The application of Virtual Class, put into practice in 2012, enables students and lecturers to reach weekly schedule, homework topics about lecture and resources in a virtual environment. Additionally, the application of Virtual Class enables students to communicate in virtual environment.

A Barrier-Free University in Every Field

In Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, a unit for the students with disabilities has been established to care for the disabled students including the students who have chronic diseases. The obstacles which restrict the disabled have been cleared. In addition, all buildings are equipped with special lifts. Trails and places have been accessible for the disabled. The unit for the disabled aims to put away all physical handicaps and other handicaps such as hearing and vision loss as well as invisible ones.

Student Clubs

There are over 40 student clubs in many fields for the students to improve themselves out of class. Students could found clubs according to their interests with the approval of administration or be a member of a club. The number of students clubs is increasing day by day so, students organize events about science, technology, culture, arts and sports and learn how to work in a group and share their experience with other students.

Scientific Meetings

Although Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey is a new university, there are many symposiums and congresses held up to now, two of which are international. Hundreds of people from our country and overseas participate in these scientific events. Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University organizes International Conference of Turkish speaking students in Turkish language festivals every other year. Turkish lovers from many parts of the world come together and Karaman as “the capital city of Turkish language” host this organization.

Student Exchange

Students who meet the requirements of Erasmus and Farabi program could participate in domestic and overseas universities. Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University has bilateral Farabi agreements with 60 universities and Erasmus agreements with 41 universities in different European Union countries.

Education and Training

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation system: Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University realized the requirements of Bologna Process suggested by Higher Education Council in the line of structuring higher education in the 21st century. Thus, ECTS has been applied in the university.

Double major/Double diploma: Available in each major in Faculty of Business and Administrative sciences. These students could have double diploma when they graduate.

Diploma Supplement: Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey provides diploma supplement developed by European council, European Commission and UNESCO/CEPES with graduates so, and their diploma could be valid in European Union countries.

Health

Family practice has come into service in Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University. Family practice is into service in the building of health, culture and sports directorate under Karaman Public health directorate. Students, university staff and their family can benefit from health services. Laboratory services, tetanus and hepatitis vaccines, infant vaccines and pregnancy tests are provided at specific days and times. Emergency services are also available. 112 emergency services and guidance are provided. Psychological counselling and guidance services support students who want psychological help. This service also becomes useful for the orientation of new students to university and city.